Machine for grinding metal balls



(No Model.)

E. A. JONES. MACHINE FOR GRINDING METAL BALLS.

No. 455,879. Patented Ju1y 14,1891.

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UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDNARD A. JONES, OF TONAVANDA, NE\V YORK.

MACHINE FOR GRINDING METAL BALLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,879, dated July 14, 1891.

` Application filed January 19, 1891. Serial No. 378,238. (No model.) l

To all whom, it may-concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. JONES, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, resid# ing at Tonawanda, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Grinding Metal Balls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a ball-grinding machine in which metallic balls suitable for use in ball-bearings are ground and polished between two disks.

My invention has for its objects to improve the construction of the lower grinding-disk, so as to increase the effectiveness of its grinding-surface, and also to provide an automatic device for depressing and raising the upper grinding-disk.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved ballgrinding machine. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section in line Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the raising and depressing mechanism. Fig. a is a horizontal section in line .e e, Fig. l. Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary vertical sections showing modified forms of the lower grinding-disk.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts.

in the several figures.

A represents the bed-plate of the machine, which is supported on legs a a.

B and E represent the disks between which the balls are ground and polished. The lower disk B consists of a series of metallic division-rings l), arranged concentrically and separated from each other by annular spaces, which are filled with emery or other suitable abrading material. The` emery is compacted in the annular spaces, so as to form solid rings or fillings b between the metallic rings. The emery fillings are provided in their upper` sides with annular grooves b2, of halfround form, in which the rows of balls are seated. The emery rings may be made of greater or less width, but should be wide enough to form eective abrading-surfaces fo r the balls, whereby the lat-ter are ground and polished when rolled between the disks. The' metallic division-rings extend above the emery rings and form the sides of the grooves to wear downwardly.

which receive the balls. The division-rings are somewhat harder than the emery in the bottom of the grooves,which causes the grooves This prevents the balls from moving laterally or radially with reference to the center of the disks and wearing the grooves wide, which would cause the balls to be ground irregularly..

-Crepresents an annular frame or trough which contains the division Vand emery rings and an annular supporting-plate C', arranged on the bottom plate o of the trough between the inner and outer walls c c2 thereof,whereby the plate C is guided vertically. This frame or trough rest-s upon the bed-plate and is provided with adj usting-screws d, arranged in the base-plate of thel frame and bearingagaiust the lower side of the supporting-plate,where by the latter and the grinding-disk resting thereon are adj usted vertically. The adjusting-screws extendthrough enlarged openings in the bed-plate, which permits the grindingdisk to be adjusted from below and also holds the same against rotary movement.

In the construction of the lower grindingring represented in Fig. l the emery rings are equal in width to the balls which are being ground, sothat a large portion of each ball is presented to the grinding-surface of the emery ring.

In the modified construction representedin Fig. 5 the emery rings are somewhat nar y rower than the balls, and the metallic division-rings extend underneath the balls, so as to form a portion of theV bottom support for the balls. This arrangement causes the division-rings togretard both the lateral and downward wearing of the grooves and requires less frequent renewal of the emery rings.

In the modified construction represented in Fig. 6 the lower grinding-disk consists of one solid metallicdisk having the annular grooves for the balls cut in its upper surface, and each of the grooves being provided in its bottom with a channel d', which is iilled with emery or similar abrading material. Ineach case an abrasive bearing-surface is provided for the lower portion of the balls, which accelerates the grinding and polishing of the latter and retards the lateral wearing of the grooves.

Heretofore the emery has been introduced between the grinding-disks in a powdered form for the purpose of grinding the balls; but the centrifugal action of the rotating upper disk and the balls caused the powdered emery to work over the sides o f the disks and required frequent renewal of the emery. By forming a bed of solid eniery to support the balls a constant abrading-surface is furnished, which. overcomes this difficulty and causes the balls to be groundmore uniformly.

The upper grinding-disk E consists of one solid rin gwhich extends downwardly between the walls of the annular frame and bears upon the balls.

F represent-s a vertical shaft whereby a rotary motion is imparted to the upper grinding-disk. This shaft is arranged within both grinding-disks and axially in line therewithl and is journaled near its lower end in a bearing f, formed cent-rally in the bed-plate of the machine.

Gr represents a supporting-plate whereby the upper disk is secured to the shaft. 'The central portion of thisplate is provided with a hub g, whichy is secured to the shaft. The upper disk is provided on its upper side with bosses or lugs 71'., which enter openings 71,', formed in the upper supporting-plate, and the diskis secured to the latter by screw-bolts h2, passing through washers 71S, arranged on the supporting-plate and lentering the bosses of the upper disk.

TheY upper end of the shaft isjourn-aled in al sleeve I, arranged to slide vertically in a collar t', formed at the upper end of an overhanging arm J, secured to one side of the bed-plate. The vertical shaft is preferably made in two sections for convenience in disconnectingtheparts, the adjoining ends being connected by means of `a couplingcollar j, secured to the ends of the shaft-sections by means of transverse pins j jz. The sleeve I bears with its ends against the hub of the upper disk and the coupling-collar, whereby' lengthwise movement of the sleeve on the shaft is prevented'. The upper portion of the shaft is provided with a bevel-gearj, for the purpose of transmitting motion to the upper grinding-disk. The gear-wheel is secured to the shaft by means of a key or splinejl, which enables the shaft to move lengthwise through the gear-wheel, but compels them to rotate together.

K represents a lever whereby the upper grinding-disk can be depressed for grinding the balls or raisedV for the-purpose of removing the balls. This lever is provided between its ends with a boss 7a', which is arranged in a vertical slot 752, formed on one side of the collar of the arm J, and is pivotally secured to the' side of the sleeve I- by means of a bolt Z engaging wi-th one of a vertical series of openings Z', formed on the side of said sleeve.

M represents a sliding weight arranged on the rear arm of the lever, whereby the rear arm is depressed. This weight is provided with an opening m, through which the lever passes and which containsv rollers m', which rest upon the lever and enable the weight to slide easily.V The movement o-f the sliding weight on the lever is limited by adjustable stops m2 m3, secured to the rear arm of the lever and arranged on opposite sides of the weight.

N represents a fulcrum-bolt, which serves as the fulcrum of thelever K when the latter is in the position for depressing the upperA grinding-disk. This bolt is arranged with its head in an undercut groove n, formed in an adj listing-bar nand passes through an opening formed in the outer arm of the lever. The lever and adj usting-bar are pivotaliy secured together by a clamping-nut n2, applied to the screw-threaded end of the fulcrum-bolt and bearing against the side of the lever;A The adjusting-bar is provided on one side with a screw-threaded shank o, which passes through an opening formed in a lug 0" on the front side of the collar t, and is securedthereto by a clamping-nut o2, applied. tothe end of the shank. The shank and cla/mpingenut of the adjusting-bar enable the latter to be adjusted to the position. of the fulcruin-bolt N in changing the fulcrum of the lever K.

P represents a fulcrum pin or roller secu red to the side of the overhangin g arm underneath the rear arm of the lever K. This' pin or roller serves as a fulcrum for the latter when it is desired to raise the upper-disk for the purpose of removing the balls and placing a new supply upon the lower disk. In the position of the parts represented in l the lever is fulcrumed on the bolt N, which causes the sleeve carrying the shaft and upper grinding-disk .to be depressed, owing. to the pressure of the weight at the opposite end of the lever. As the upper disk wears and becomes lighter the weight is moved toward the outer end of the lever by adjusting the stop m2 to increase its leverage and compensate for the loss in the pressure-resulting from the wearing of the upper disk. During the downward movement of the lever, as the upper disk wears away, its fulcrum-boltv is permitted to move outwardly by a slight turning of the adj usting-bar on its pivot. The groove in the adjustingebar permitsthe fulcrumfbolt to be adjusted vertically in ac` cordance with the thickness of the upper grinding-disk. Vhen it is desired tor raise IOS ITO

the upper disk, the fulcrum-bolt is loosened,

. a fulcrum.

causes the rear arm to continue its downward movement and swing on the roller l as a fnlcrum, thereby raising the front arm ot' the lever and lifting the upper disk connected therewith. The adjusting-bar is preferably curved, so as to permit the fulcrum-bolt to move freely in the groove of the adjustingbar when the lever swings on the roller P as In this manner the Weight M is utilized either to depress or raise the upper grinding-disk, thereby enabling the machine to be manipulated very easily. lVhen it is desired to again depress the upper disk, the front arm of the lever is depressed by means of the handle q at the front end until the upper disk bears upon the balls and the rear arm of the lever is raised from the fulcrumroller. adj usting-bar said bolt again acts as the fulcrum of the lever, which causes the weight to depress the upper disk. `By alternately locating the fulcrum on the bolt N and roller P it acts alternately in the capacity of a first and second class lever. staut the rear arm of the lever is raised above a horizontal position the weight slides inwardly toward the fulcrum, thereby decreasing the leverage. In this manner a small leverage and a correspondingly light downward pressure can be applied to the balls in addition to the weight of the upper disk, while a larger leverage is used when it is desired to raise the upper disk. This change in leverage is automatically effected by the sliding of the weight M when the rear arm of the lever rises above or falls below a.

and intermediate abrasive fillings arranged between the metallic rings and depressed below the same, thereby forming concentric grooves having metallic sides and abrasive bottoms, substantially as set forth.

2. In a ball-grinding machine, the combination, with the upper grinding-disk, of a lower grinding-disk having its upper face provided with annular grooves having me- ',tallic sides and abrasive fillings forming the Upon tightening the bolt N on the The innular grooves, and division-rings arranged between said grinding-rings, of a plate supporting said grinding-rings and division-rings,

,and ad justing-screws engaging against said plate, whereby the disk is adjusted, substantially as set forth.

t. In. a disk for ball-grindingmachines, the

combination, with the series of grinding-v tially as set forth.

5i In a ball-grinding machine, the combination, with a grinding-disk and its support, of a weighted leverpivotally secured to said support and connected with said grindingdisk, whereby the latter is moved vertically, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the movable grinding-disk and its supporting-frame, of a lever connected with said disk and having fulcra arranged on opposite sides of its connection with said disk, and a weight attached to the lever, substantially as set forth.`

7. The combination, with the movable grinding-disk andits supporting-frame, of a lever attached to said disk, and a sliding weight arranged on said lever, whereby the leverage is automatically increased or decreased, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the movable grinding-disk and its supporting-frame, of a lever connected with said disk and frame near one end, a weight arranged to slide upon the opposite end of said lever, and stops whereby the sliding movement of said weight is limited, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the movable grinding-disk, a movable sleeve connected with said disk, and a supporting-frame in which said sleeve is guided, of a lever connected with said sleeve,"apivoted support on said frame for one arm of said. lever, and a weight arranged on the opposite arm of said' lever, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with the movable grindinggdisk, a movable sleeve connected with said disk, and a frame supporting said sleeve, of a lever attached to said sleeve, a

pivoted bar to which one arm ofv said lever- TCO IIC

ble of adjustment in said bzw and adapted to fitness my hemd this 13thl day of January, serve as a. fulcrum for the lever on one side 1891.

0f the sleeve a. pin or roller attached to the 1 /T T X L1-u1, and adapted to Serve as a fulerum for LD ARD A' JOB Eb' 5 the lever on the opposite side of the sleeve, .tuesses:

and a Weight attached to said lever, substan- THEO. L. POPP,

tially as set forth. EMIL NEUHART. 

